Chuktur
Banned
Yobanjin * Broken Hammer Tribe * Duck Clan Champion
Posts: 15
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Post by Chuktur on Feb 18, 2011 13:27:37 GMT -5
*As the fog fell again Chuktur frowned. True, his archers had not scored a hit, but in keeping up a barrage of arrows they had forced the Samurai to remain under cover, meaning his men could charge across the open ground unmolested. He himself had almost drawn a bead to fire his terrible bow three times, twice on Domotai and once on Thrakath, but both times the Samurai had not remained out of cover long enough. He didn't regret it. By bow or by lance or by scimitar, it was all the same. They would die soon enough*
+To judge by the screams and curses, though, his men were paying a dear price. He estimated he had lost thirty already. But he still had half his force left. Nudging his steed forward, unable to restrain himself from drawing closer to the fray even as he hesitated to join it, he shouted an order that his herald relayed. The archers, their bows useless in the fog, efficiently stowed their bows in their saddles and leapt from their steeds, brandishing clubs and blades as they advanced on the outcrop. All of Chuktur's men were committed to the battle now, except for the Wyrm riders, who still kept their position above the fog in case the Samurai foolishly tried to flee across open ground, himself, and his herald, who continued to tend to the reins of his horse. For the first time since he had been interrogated by that insufferable weakling, Chuktur felt warmth touch his heart. This would be a great victory. Two enemy Generals dead at his hand! He allowed himself to savour the thought of presenting their severed heads in triumph to the Council of Battles at the Great Camp. Maybe he would be appointed High Warmaster of the Assembled Peoples... the spirits knew that geriatric fool who was theoretically the great commander had neither the stomach nor the brains to truly lead this war*
*Another scream echoed from the outcrop. Chuktur recognised the voice - one of his more promising warriors, his life cut short. Well, such was war. He was paying a price for his triumph today, but it was worth it. Closing his eyes and dipping his head three times to the sky spirits, as was the custom of the Broken Hammer, Chuktur began to pray, a low, droning, ululating prayer, asking the children of the great sky teacher to guide his men's hands as they slew his enemies*
*As he prayed, he did not notice that the fog had once more began to thin and lift*
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Feb 18, 2011 14:14:57 GMT -5
Having given up all pretenses of holding back, Thrakhath fought just as hard now as he had when this battle had begun. As he gutted another yobanjin warrior, his corpse joining the pile of them growing at his feet, for a moment it seemed the rest of them couldn't get to him. The Lion had disappeared in the mist, and all he could make out of Mo-Li was a shadowy, indistinct form twisting in the fog. If I am to die then, I may as well die doing what I do best, he thought. He tasted the blood on his blade and grinned savagely, closing his eyes and muttering a blasphemous incantation under his breath.
When his eyes opened again, they were glowing with a dark, unholy light, and his grin was replaced with a fierce glare directed at the forms of enemy soldiers charging over their comrades' dead forms to get at him. "Come on and finish it, then!" he yelled in challenge, his weapon held ready. Live or die, these barbarians would pay dearly for crossing blades with him.
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Post by utakumoli on Feb 18, 2011 15:16:55 GMT -5
It seemed that there would be no end to the Yobanjin attack: wave after wave came after them through the fog. Sensing that she'd not be able to hold off the savages for much longer, she adopted a more offensive stance. From somewhere in the mist, she heard the screams of gutted Yobanjin, and she knew her comrades were worthy warriors of the Empire indeed. She smiled, heartened by their pluck.
She growled and thrust forth with her spear, stabbing a footsoldier in the thigh. She knew that where he'd been hit, he'd bleed out in a matter of minutes. He was no longer a threat. Time to move on. Pivoting in the mist, she swung round with her spear in an attempt to catch a few off guard. She only managed to force a few back a step.
She swung back around, more swiftly this time, drawing mist in a trail behind the spearhead. Crouching low to the ground, she swung the spear in a wide arc. Her speed caught a few of the slower Yobanjin off guard, slicing deep into their ankles and shins.
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Matsu Domotai
Lion Clan
Samurai- Lion Clan general-magistrate-courtier- Tensai-Unique
Posts: 123
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Post by Matsu Domotai on Feb 18, 2011 17:25:14 GMT -5
Domotai was now alone in the thick fog. He could only distinguish shadows but he knew he had the advantage over his enemies in these conditions. Domotai had been trained to fight in any condition and this with strength and swiftness. Domotai waited and then a few shadows broke threw a cloud of mist just in front of him. Three Yobanjin were charging Domotai. Domotai took one step forward and swiftly sliced an ennemy with a bottom left to top right trajectory. The Yobanjin feel to the floor and laid in a puddle of blood. Domotai then took a step side ways and stopped one of the enemies scimitars with his blade. He gave a kick in the stomach with all his strength. The yobanjin caught his feet in some rocks and fell to the floor. The third Yobanjin was now charging Domotai from behind. Domotai turned around to face his enemy and slowly stepped aside, his ennemy's blade swoping right in front of his face, and with a diagonal descent Domotai's Katana cut through the enemy's back like butter. The second Yobanjin just had the time to stand up when Domotai chucked a scimitar towards him. The yobanjin avoided the scimitar but didn't have time to react to Domotai's charge. The Yobanjin looked down to see that Domotai's katana was 2/3 in his body. Domotai pushed is ennemy freeing his blade.
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Chuktur
Banned
Yobanjin * Broken Hammer Tribe * Duck Clan Champion
Posts: 15
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Post by Chuktur on Feb 18, 2011 23:21:32 GMT -5
*Chuktur had fought many battles, although chiefly against other Yobanjin. In his time he had developed a keen sense for when the tide was turning. It was hard for him to explain even to himself how he divined it, but if he had had to guess he would have spoken of sensing the weariness in his opponent's movements, the sense of resignation in their battle cries. And he felt it now. It caused his heart to beat faster, his mouth to wet as if anticipating a meal. But it was better than a meal. Better than lying with a woman, even. It was the greatest thing he had ever experienced. Victory*
*As if to aid him in his savouring the moment, the fog thinned and rolled away, revealing the embattled Samurai. The corpses of his men lay scattered around them like discarded dolls. As he watched, a single Yobanjin soldier crawled desperately through long undergrowth, ignoring the harsh bracken as it scratched his face, his intestines spilling from a massive cut in his belly. Blood splattered the cold stone walls*
*The victory horn blew, and Chuktur gave himself fully to the sensation. Soon he would stand over his enemy's corpses and know he had vanquished them*
*But there was something nagging at the corner of his awareness like a fly. Something that prevented himself from fully savouring the moment*
*He had blown no horn. It still hung at his belt. He looked around to reprimand the over-eager warrior who had blown the horn without his chief's command. But... that wasn't even his tribes horn. And there it was again*
*He looked across the steppe, and his heart, soaring with elated triumph only a few moments before, crashed like a stone. From the direction of Mountain Watch Keep, a glittering host approached. The proud purple banners of a unit of Battle Maidens became visible as they thundered over a low rise in perfect formation, fording a small stream in a magnificent plume of water. They were closing fast - their lances were already levelled*
*Even as he despaired, Chuktur realised that it was too late. His men might have been able to match the Battle Maidens if they had time to dig in and resist the charge - Chuktur knew that even the finest cavalry in the world would struggle to overcome well prepared defenders with spears and good morale. But his men were scattered around the outcrop. It would be a massacre. Within seconds Chuktur knew that he had lost*
*His gaze immediately went up, heart pounding with fear as the Battle Maidens drew nearer. With one hand he began to cut frantically at the leather straps his men had used to tie him into the saddle since his legs, still crippled by Domotai's blade, would not allow him to grip the steed properly. With the other he frantically gestured towards the Wyrm Riders. One Rider saw him and brought his beast down, at first cautiously, then, as he saw the onrushing Battle Maidens, hastily. Chuktur reached up and grabbed the rider's outstretched hand. Every muscle in his arm strained, but he hung on for grim death as the rider, cursing under his breath and face pale with effort, hauled Chuktur into the saddle. The cold air battered Chuktur's face as the Wyrm rose*
*Looking down, he felt like he was looking at the board of that strange tiled game he had seen the Rokugani play. His men, not warned by him, were taken utterly by surprise. It no doubt seemed to them that the Battle Maidens had simply appeared out of the mist as if by magic. Like a purple tide, the Battle Maidens washed over the rock, effortlessly running his men down. Those who did not fall either fled into the outcrops, where his former captives cut them down, or across the steppe, but were over-run by the Battle Maidens. It was a massacre. He doubted even a single one of his warriors would survive. His best men...*
*Even as he clung to the pummel, Chuktur knew what he had to do. His tribe's greatest warriors had been destroyed. His rivals, the Singing Mountain and the Groaning Wind tribes, would like as not break off their attack on Mountain Watch to ransack his camp. He needed to pull those warriors he had left back to his tribal lands. Another season, and he would have another force of veterans ready for his command... it was far away, but he hoped that one day he would have a chance for revenge against these Samurai. But for now, he had to rest, lick his wounds, and look to his people*
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Doji Hyuu
Banned
Crane Clan Master Artisan * Magistrate * Courtier * Unique
Posts: 122
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Post by Doji Hyuu on Feb 18, 2011 23:23:08 GMT -5
OOC: OK campers, that's a wrap! If you want to post about some discussions in the aftermath, that's fine, but if not we can assume that our heroes are escorted back to Mountain Watch Keep, given some rest, have their wounds tended to, and then go their separate ways with some stories to tell.
Thrakath I am guessing you'll want to have our friendly neighbourhood Spider sneak away in the chaos of the final battle. That's certainly do-able, but if you want to post about it happening, that's good too. Perhaps one day we will meet again and get a chance to question exactly what happened there.
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Matsu Domotai
Lion Clan
Samurai- Lion Clan general-magistrate-courtier- Tensai-Unique
Posts: 123
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Post by Matsu Domotai on Feb 19, 2011 15:56:54 GMT -5
As the fog faded away, the figure of Domotai appeared. He looked tired, he was kneeling in the middle of about 10 enemy corpse. A Yobanjin was standing over him ready to give the mortal blow when he heard a horn. The enemy looked to the horizon and saw a troop of Rokugani horsemen charging their way. Domotai in a last effort took out a little blade that was hidden in his winter boots and stuck it in the enemy's neck, blood spilling on Domotai's forearms. Domotai saw Chuktur and his army struggling to flee while the Unicorn charge was making a massacre of the Yobanjin warriors. Domotai smiled, thanked the ancestors and fell unsconscious on the floor. This last war effort really exhausted him.
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Matsu Domotai
Lion Clan
Samurai- Lion Clan general-magistrate-courtier- Tensai-Unique
Posts: 123
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Post by Matsu Domotai on Feb 19, 2011 19:53:52 GMT -5
( OOC: Don't you guys want to RP at least until we get back to the keep?)
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Doji Hyuu
Banned
Crane Clan Master Artisan * Magistrate * Courtier * Unique
Posts: 122
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Post by Doji Hyuu on Feb 20, 2011 3:09:49 GMT -5
OOC: Well we could Domotai, but personally Hyuu is likely to be a bit too traumatised for any chit-chat. Maybe the others, though.
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Post by Daidoji Hikori on Feb 20, 2011 17:02:30 GMT -5
(ooc: as homer simpson would have said...doh...I don't visit for 2 days and I lose all the fun...oh well...I will invent something nioce for later...)
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Matsu Domotai
Lion Clan
Samurai- Lion Clan general-magistrate-courtier- Tensai-Unique
Posts: 123
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Post by Matsu Domotai on Feb 21, 2011 5:09:16 GMT -5
Domotai opens his eyes and sees with astonishment a delicately decorated room. Proper bandages have been applied to all his wounds and he felt rested. Probably the Unicorn patrol took him back to moutain watch keep. Then Domotai remembered his duty and sprung to his legs but the pain was to intense to walk properly. A servant saw Domotai standing up.
" Domotai sama you must take some rest you are heavily wounded."
Domotai looked at the girl and decided to go back to bed. He asked the girl to get information about the whereabouts of the lion champion Akodo Tomatsu.
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Feb 21, 2011 10:44:21 GMT -5
Ripping his scimitar violently from the gut of yet another yobanjin soldier, Thrakhath brought his weapon up to parry another attack just as the Utaku warhorns began to blow. He'd heard that sound more than a few times in recent days and knew all too well what it meant. As the yobanjin attack fell into disarray, Thrakhath muttered another incantation under his breath, his blood-soaked clothing providing more than enough fuel for his spell. The fog around him seemed to deepen, a denseness that followed him closely as he made his way out of the rocky outcropping and away from the battle. He did his best to avoid enemies, but killed more than a few barbarians and samurai that crossed his path. When he was confident that he was far from the battle, he broke into an unnatural sprint, racing across the plain toward his clan's encampment.
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Post by Daidoji Hikori on Feb 22, 2011 14:51:36 GMT -5
(Ooc: Here goes a description of what I have been doing all the time)
Hikori could sense the incoming figure of the wyrm and its rider driving closer at the second, he heard the riders command and prepared himself for the impact which never came. The inhuman roar of the wyrm and the barbarian's frantic orders indicated something had gone wrong. Hikori turned his face to see a spear jutting from the wyrms abdomen. Without second thought he reached the outcrop nodding to his savior. They weren't out of the woods yet. Hopefully Mo-Li would reach her sisters in time to bring them to the rescue. He couldn't believe his eyes...the battle maiden was charging the enemy formation... Arrogant bitch! What was she trying to do.
He wouldn't wait there till Mo-Li or all of them perished to the barbarians. He looked around trying to come up with something.
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Lu-Gai shrugged to himself. To his left Ming-Ho seethed with rage about having his wyrm hit. Unfortunately they couldn't attack the samurai. It seemed that all of them had reached the outcrop and now were relatively safe from their attacks except one that was heading her death. The others where no doubt watching the scene getting a glimpse of what was in stall for them.Their surviving steeds on the other hand where either blissfully grazing or....that was strange. A lone steed seemed to move as if guided by someone...what the...!?!?
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He had been spotted. There was no reason to hide anymore. Hikori jumped back on the saddle of the horse. The wyrmrider who had seen him was closing in and some arrows already spotted the field where his horse had passed only seconds before. He turned his head to control the enemies position. The arrow was meant for his horse and was to close to evade. Hikori instinctively extended his left hand and blocked the arrow with his own flesh. Above him he could make out the laughter of the barbarian. But he had a surprise for him.
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Lu-gai savored the moment before the impact. In mere moments he would bring death to the coward who had abandoned his comrades. He ducked to his side easily evading the man's knife as it reached for him. He felt the impact and he knew he was successful. He never saw the second knife coming neither did he see how the samurai ended up on his wyrm...but then again it didn't matter any longer.
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Thrakhath not only had saved Hikori but he had given him a golden opportunity. He had been able to observe how the Yobanjin rider controlled his monstrous flying steed. Now holding hard onto the alien beast he shouted the orders he had heard. He used the rains as he had seen and eventually he gained control of the wyrm. He had to hurry, the others wouldn't resist forever. Matsu, Utaku even the Ronin and Hyuu had shown such courage that he had rarely witnessed. Such men and women had to be saved if only to be able to inspire the empire. He just hoped he would make it in time.
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The skirmish ended as soon as it had started. The unorganized barbarians were no match for the battle maidens. Chuctur wasn't among the fallen, he had escaped in the same mist that had covered the Battle Maiden's charge. He first spotted Mo-Li, even if surprised he was glad she had made it. He could see why she was a general. A fierce warrior, just like Domotai. He was being carried away, half unconscious, yet the blood on his kimono spoke clearly about his performance. When he reached Hyuu, Hikori's mouth fell. At first he thought Hyuu was wearing a mask, but he quickly understood it was the courtiers own blood. He dropped to his knees. "Sama...I have failed you..."... the only words he could pronounce.
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Doji Hyuu
Banned
Crane Clan Master Artisan * Magistrate * Courtier * Unique
Posts: 122
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Post by Doji Hyuu on Feb 23, 2011 22:26:51 GMT -5
*Hyuu managed a weak smile as he wiped away some of the blood with a kerchief he carried in one of his kimono's inner pockets* "Please, Hikori-sama" *The courtier's voice was ragged from exertion and fear, but he seemed to have regained his composure enough to choose his words with the customary care* "It is only a flesh wound. It hurts, but I expect you take dozens of such wounds without flinching. On the contrary, I owe you a great kindness. Without you I doubt we would have been able to get close enough to Mountain Watch Keep for these fine young warrior women to rescue us. If you wish for me to repay you, I understand that you are looking for a bride. But that can wait" *Hyuu took the bridle of a steed offered to him by one of the battle maidens, and mounted up* "I presume Chuktur is not among the slain or captured? A shame. I would have liked to have made another attempt at interrogating him"
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Post by Daidoji Hikori on Feb 24, 2011 11:02:32 GMT -5
Hikori regains his composure. "I hardly did anything Doji sama. You have escaped on your own devices and the courage all of you have shown shames me. Please sama try to get better soon."
He takes the pillow book he has retrieved from Mo-Li and hands it to Hyuu.
"I would be honored if you where to give this too our superiors. If it was intelligence on the enemy they wanted this should do. If it weren't for you I would have been unable to infiltrate the Yobanjin camp"
Hikori mounted on his steed as well and smiled to Hyuu
"Then there would be a special gift that would require your attention" Hikori said alluding to the Wyrm that was now caged in the Crane camp. It would make a fine gift...His superiors would have to decide who would be the one to have it though.
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